Pittsburgh Pirates' Justin Morneau, right, talks with Pirates hitting coach Jay Bell (3) in the dugout during a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Pittsburgh Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013. Morneau was acquired from the Minnesota Twins. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Minnesota's Justin Morneau, left, and manager Ron Gardenhire breath out steam in the midst of temperatures in the upper 20's as they stand at first base during batting practice of 2013 Opening Day at Target Field in Miinneapolis on Monday April 1, 2013. (Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo)

FORT MYERS, FL - MARCH 24: Catcher Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins congratulates Justin Morneau #33 after his home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during a Grapefruit League Spring Training Game at Hammond Stadium on March 24, 2013 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

Minnesota's Justin Morneau, left, is greeted by teammate Joe Mauer after hitting a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning against the Angels at Target Field in Minneapolis on Thursday April 12, 2012. Mauer, who singled ahead of Morneau, scored on the play. (Pioneer Press: Richard Marshall)

Replacing Justin Morneau, at this stage of his career, in the middle of the Twins lineup might not be as difficult as replacing the emotional heft he carried inside the clubhouse.

Immediately after the 2006 American League MVP was traded to Pittsburgh on Saturday, his role as team leader was mentioned in every corner of the clubhouse.

Closer Glen Perkins called Morneau “the authority on the Twins Way” and said the veteran first baseman “had the most respect of anyone in this clubhouse.”

Manager Ron Gardenhire said Morneau was “the one that set the table” in the Twins clubhouse and has mentioned several times how the 32-year-old former all-star would nip potential problems for him in the bud.

“When something needed to be said, Morney always was able to step up,” Gardenhire said. “No doubt, he was our leader.”

While plenty of fans, and most Twins players, hold out hope that Morneau will be re-signed this winter, there are no guarantees. If Morneau is, indeed, done with the Twins, his departure leaves a leadership void that must be addressed.

How that void will be filled is among the most pressing questions of this looming offseason.

NO FORMULA

Baseball leaders don’t necessarily have to be the most experienced or most tenured — or even the most talented. Becoming one is an organic process that’s often hard to describe.

Outfielder Michael Cuddyer was considered one of the Twins’ top leaders before leaving as a free agent after the 2011 season. Longtime closer Joe Nathan held that role in the bullpen before he moved on to Texas at the same time.

Former slugger Don Baylor, a key member of the Twins’ first World Series winner in 1987, had that type of impact on each club he joined over the second half of his career. He also helped the 1986 Boston Red Sox and 1988 Oakland A’s win the American League pennant.

Similarly, former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Darren Daulton joined the 1997 Florida Marlins at the trade deadline and immediately took charge, cleaning up what he derisively termed a “country club” atmosphere. Three months later, the expansion Marlins were champions in their fifth year of existence.

Much of it comes down to a talent for saying the right thing at the right time in just the right way. A small percentage of the thousands who reach the majors seem to have that particular gift.

“Some guys are going to be more vocal,” Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. “Some guys will be more visual. Some guys will be one-on-one, and some guys aren’t afraid to get into a group.”

At 34, Twins left fielder Josh Willingham isn’t just the oldest player on the team but the most well-traveled, having made previous stops in Florida, Washington and Oakland.

“He’s quiet, but he’s well respected,” Ryan said. “We’ve had quiet guys in here that have been our best leaders.”

Ryan mentioned 39-year-old infielder Jamey Carroll, who was soft-spoken but made a big impact on young infielders such as Trevor Plouffe and Brian Dozier in his season and a half with the Twins. Carroll was traded to Kansas City on Aug. 11.

“Jamey was a quiet person, but he was a leader,” Ryan said. “He was well respected. There’s a reason he’s been in the game as long as he has.”

Veteran reliever Jared Burton, 32, is the elder statesman of the bullpen.

“Burton is a quiet guy, but he’s about as well respected as we have in there,” Ryan said.

Catcher-outfielder Ryan Doumit, 32, grew close to Morneau since coming to the Twins at the start of 2012 and would seem to have leadership qualities. However, the Twins’ winner of the Heart and Hustle Award this year faces an uncertain future with the team and has seen his playing time shrink.

“Who’s the most vocal guy in the clubhouse?” Ryan asked.

Perkins’ name was immediately mentioned.

“Perkins is probably one of our better leaders,” Ryan said. “He does it one way. Willingham might do it another.”

It’s tough to lead from the bench, but reserve outfielder Wilkin Ramirez carried great respect, especially among fellow Latinos, before injuries wrecked his season.

“We have some other leaders out there,” Gardenhire said. “Do I fear it? No. Somebody has to step up and get it done.”

AN OBVIOUS FIX

What about Joe Mauer?

He got married last offseason. He turned 30 in April. He became a father for the first time in July. Could it be time for the team’s highest-paid player ($23 million annually) to take on another level of responsibility in the workplace?

The simplest solution to the leadership void might just be for the six-time all-star to take on more of the leadership role Morneau handled.

“Joe is a leader when he’s here,” Gardenhire said. “He’s not here right now.”

Mauer has been out since Aug. 19 with the first diagnosed concussion of his professional career. Once he returns to the field, which could be as soon as this weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays, the floor will be open.

“He’s definitely one of our leaders,” Gardenhire said. “Those two (Morneau and Mauer) I rely on — 100 percent rely on. Joe’s not a rah-rah guy; he’s not a cheerleader guy with pompoms. Joe’s a quiet leader.”

Morneau was soft-spoken, as well; he just may have sought out more opportunities to pass along his collected baseball wisdom than Mauer has to this point in his career.

“(Mauer) walks around and says what he has to say to guys,” Gardenhire said. “If he sees something he doesn’t like, he goes and talks about it. That’s how he leads. Plus, (he leads) by example out on the field.”

Like Morneau, Mauer has an AL MVP Award in his trophy case (2009). He also carries the highest lifetime batting average (.323) of any active player in the game.

“He’s an all-star,” Gardenhire said. “He gets it done. People look up to him.”

In late May, when the Twins were in the middle of a 10-game losing streak, Mauer made it clear he wouldn’t be reluctant to jump in and say something should the situation arise.

“When a younger guy makes a mistake, a veteran guy like myself or Morneau or another veteran will come in there and talk about it so they know reasons why and why not,” Mauer said. “That’s always been the case here.”

Perhaps Mauer’s role as the team’s primary catcher makes it a little tougher for him to be the overall clubhouse watchdog. The amount of time he must put into working with the pitching staff and game-planning for opposing hitters — not to mention recovering from the punishment of the game’s most demanding position — cuts into his observational opportunities and chances for quick interventions.

Then again, that could change if this concussion scare leads to less time behind the plate for Mauer and more time at Morneau’s old position, where Mauer has made 54 career starts, including eight this season.

“Joe is vocal in the clubhouse,” reliever Brian Duensing said. “He does more of his leadership on the field. That’s the type of leader he is. It could be him.”

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